Opponents to present petition to block new clinic

Tuesday

Feb 5, 2013 at 2:00 PM

Abortion opponents have delivered a rezoning petition with about 14,000 signatures to the Wichita City Council in a move to block the opening of a clinic at the building once owned by slain abortion provider George Tiller.

Associated Press

Abortion opponents have delivered a rezoning petition with about 14,000 signatures to the Wichita City Council in a move to block the opening of a clinic at the building once owned by slain abortion provider George Tiller.

Kansans for Life plans to add hundreds more signatures and present them to the local zoning commission later this month. Petition organizer David Gittrich says residents don't want an abortion clinic in the neighborhood.

The council asked staff to research the issue.

The abortion rights group Trust Women bought the building and plans to offer reproductive health care services, including abortions, at the site.

Their attorney, Robert Eye, says there is no legal basis that will justify rezoning the land. He says rezoning motivated by a political purpose is improper.